I used to be super wary of fluoride too, honestly. There’s so much stuff floating around online that it’s hard not to get a little paranoid. But after getting a couple cavities filled, my dentist basically convinced me to stop avoiding it. My teeth have been way less sensitive since, and I haven’t had any new issues pop up. I still use a filter because our tap water tastes weird, but I feel better knowing the fluoride’s probably helping more than hurting. Funny about the aloe plant—mine’s picky too, but yeah, plants and teeth are a whole different ballgame.
I totally get the hesitation around fluoride—there’s just so much info out there, and some of it sounds pretty scary. For me, I tried skipping it for a while to save money on fancy filters, but honestly, my dentist bills went up way more than what I was spending on a filter. Now I just use the regular tap water (with fluoride), and my teeth have been way happier. I still use a cheap pitcher filter for taste because our water is... not great, but I figure the fluoride’s worth keeping. Plants, though? Mine barely survive no matter what water I use—maybe they’re just as picky as we are.
I totally relate to the confusion—it’s hard to know what’s actually safe sometimes. I remember reading a bunch of scary articles about fluoride years ago and got super paranoid, so I bought one of those pricey filters that supposedly removed everything. My teeth ended up getting really sensitive, and my dentist actually noticed a couple new cavities at my next checkup. That was a wake-up call for me.
Switched back to regular tap water after that, and honestly, my mouth feels way better now. I still cringe at the taste sometimes (our tap water has a weird aftertaste too), but like you, I just use one of those cheap pitcher filters for flavor and call it good. The fluoride thing is such a weird balance between “is this safe?” and “will my teeth fall out if I skip it?” but I guess for me, the dental bills were the deciding factor.
And plants… yeah, mine are drama queens no matter what water I give them. Maybe they’re just destined to be finicky?
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’m still not convinced that fluoride in tap water is the only answer for dental health. I’ve been in braces for over a year now, and my orthodontist keeps hammering home that brushing technique and diet matter way more than just what’s in your water. I actually switched to a filter that takes out most additives (including fluoride) because our city water tastes like a swimming pool, and I haven’t noticed any extra cavities or sensitivity. If anything, my teeth feel cleaner without the weird film I used to get.
I know there’s research backing fluoride, but there’s also plenty of debate about long-term exposure—especially if you’re already using toothpaste with fluoride twice a day. Maybe it depends on genetics or how disciplined you are with oral hygiene? Dental bills are rough either way, but I’d rather focus on habits I can control than stress about what’s in my glass.
And yeah, plants… mine wilt dramatically no matter what water they get. Maybe they just hate me?
I hear you on the city water thing—some tap water really does taste like it’s been filtered through an old pool noodle. And yeah, brushing and diet are huge. I’d never tell someone to just chug tap water and skip flossing or go wild on gummy bears. That’s a one-way ticket to Cavity Town, population: you.
But here’s where I get a bit nerdy about fluoride. It’s not magic, but it’s like a little insurance policy for your enamel, especially if you’re not always perfect with your routine (and honestly, who is?). There are studies showing communities with fluoridated water have fewer cavities overall, even when people brush and use toothpaste. But I totally get wanting to control what goes in your body—if the taste is grossing you out, that’s reason enough to filter it.
The “film” thing is interesting though. Sometimes that’s from minerals or even chlorine, not just fluoride. But if your teeth feel better and your dentist isn’t finding new issues, maybe you’re one of those lucky folks with superhero saliva or something. Genetics definitely play a part—some people can eat candy all day and barely get a cavity, while others look at a cookie and need a filling.
I do wonder, though: have you ever lived somewhere without any fluoride in the water? Or had dental checkups before and after making the switch? Sometimes it takes years for the difference to show up (which is both comforting and kind of sneaky). And about those plants... trust me, my succulents have staged more dramatic deaths than any soap opera star. Maybe they’re protesting the lack of fluoride too?
Curious if you’ve noticed any changes in your dental checkups since switching filters, or if it’s been pretty much business as usual?
